Low profile universal cable tie cutting tool for wire damage prevention

Abstract

A cutting tool includes a first arm assembly which includes a first jaw member connected to a first handle. A second arm assembly includes a second jaw member connected to a second handle. The first arm assembly and the second arm assembly are rotatably connected to one another so as to rotate relative to one another. The first jaw member has a first outer surface configured to project away from the first jaw member and defines a first boundary. The second jaw member has a second outer surface configured to project away from the second jaw member and defines a second boundary. A cutting blade is positioned between the first and second jaw members and is positioned spaced apart from the first boundary and the second boundary with the first and second arm assemblies positioned in one of an open position or closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cutting tool, comprising:
 a first arm assembly comprising a first jaw member connected to a first handle; 
 a second arm assembly comprising a second jaw member connected to a second handle, wherein:
 the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly are rotatably connected to one another with a first pivot member so as to rotate relative to one another; and 
 the first jaw member has a first outer surface, which extends in a first direction and the first outer surface defines a first boundary, and the second jaw member has a second outer surface, which extends in a second direction and the second outer surface defines a second boundary, wherein the first direction is a different direction than the second direction; and 
 
 a cutting blade is connected to a first and a second translational movement plates, and the first and second translational movement plates are connected to the first and second handles, such that rotation of the first and second arm assemblies relative to one another moves the first and second translational movement plates and cutting blade relative to the first pivot member, wherein:
 the first direction and the second direction each extend away from the cutting blade, 
 the cutting blade is positioned between the first and second jaw members, and 
 the cutting blade is positioned spaced apart from the first boundary and the second boundary with the first and second handles positioned in one of an open position, with the first and second jaw members in an open position, or a closed position, with the first and second jaw members in a closed position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer surface comprises a first tapered configuration which extends in the first direction and the second outer surface comprises a second tapered configuration which extends in the second direction. 
     
     
       3. The cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein the first outer surface comprises a first curved surface extending from a first end of the first tapered configuration and the second outer surface comprises a second curved surface extending from a second end of the second tapered configuration. 
     
     
       4. The cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw member comprises a first surface defining a first slot and the second jaw member comprises a second surface defining a second slot, wherein with the first and second jaw members in the closed position, the cutting blade is positioned within the first slot of the first jaw member and within the second slot of the second jaw member and the cutting blade is positioned separated from the first boundary and the second boundary. 
     
     
       5. The cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivot member comprises a threaded shaft which extends through a first opening defined in the first arm assembly and through a second opening defined in the second arm assembly. 
     
     
       6. The cutting tool of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the threaded shaft of the first pivot member extends through a first plate slot defined by the first translational movement plate, which is positioned on a first side of the cutting tool, and the threaded shaft of the first pivot member extends through a second plate slot defined by the second translational movement plate, which is positioned on a second side of the cutting tool. 
 
     
     
       7. The cutting tool of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first pivot member comprises a head positioned at one end of the threaded shaft which has a first washer positioned between the head and the first translational movement plate; and 
 the first pivot member comprises a nut with a second washer positioned between the nut, which is engaged to the threaded shaft of the first pivot member, and the second translational movement plate. 
 
     
     
       8. The cutting tool of  claim 6 , wherein the first plate slot and the second plate slot extend along in a third direction toward the cutting blade. 
     
     
       9. The cutting tool of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the cutting blade is affixed to a first end portion of the first translational movement plate and the second translational movement plate; 
 a first lever arm is rotatably connected to a second end portion of the first and second translational movement plates and rotatably connected to the first handle; and 
 a second lever arm is rotatably connected to the second end portion of the first and second translational movement plates and rotatably connected to the second handle, wherein:
 a second pivot member comprises a threaded shaft which extends through a third opening defined by the second end portion of the first translational movement plate, through a fourth opening defined by the first lever arm and through a fifth opening defined by the second lever arm; and 
 the second translational movement plate has a receptacle opening in which the threaded shaft of the second pivot member extends through the receptacle opening. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein the first plate slot, the second plate slot and the cutting blade are in alignment. 
     
     
       11. The cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first lever arm is rotatably connected to the first handle; and 
 the second lever arm is rotatably connected to the second handle, such that when the first and second handles are moved toward each other such that the first jaw member and the second jaw member move toward the closed position, the first and second lever arms move the first and second translational movement plates and the cutting blade in the third direction toward the first and second jaw members or when the first and second handles are moved away from each other such that the first jaw member and the second jaw member move toward the open position, the first and second lever arms move the first and second translational movement plates and the cutting blade in a fourth direction away from the first and second jaw members and in an opposite direction to the third direction. 
 
     
     
       12. The cutting tool of  claim 11 , wherein:
 with the first and second jaw members positioned in the closed position, the cutting blade is positioned spaced apart from the first boundary of the first outer surface of the first jaw member and is positioned spaced apart from the second boundary of the second outer surface of the second jaw member; and 
 the cutting blade is positioned within a first slot of the first jaw member and within a second slot of the second jaw member. 
 
     
     
       13. The cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein a compression spring is positioned between the first handle and the second handle. 
     
     
       14. The cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle has a first projection member extending away from the first handle, and the second handle has a second projection member extending away from the second handle. 
     
     
       15. A cutting tool, comprising:
 a first arm assembly comprising a first jaw member connected to a first handle; 
 a second arm assembly comprising a second jaw member connected to a second handle, wherein:
 the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly are rotatably connected to one another with a first pivot member so as to rotate relative to one another; and 
 the first jaw member has a first outer surface, which extends in a first direction and the first outer surface defines a first boundary, and the second jaw member has a second outer surface, which extends in a second direction and the second outer surface defines a second boundary, wherein the first direction is a different direction than the second direction; wherein:
 the first outer surface comprises a first tapered configuration which extends in the first direction and a second outer surface comprises a second tapered configuration which extends in the second direction, and 
 the first outer surface comprises a first curved surface extending from a first end of the first tapered configuration and the second outer surface comprises a second curved surface extending from a second end of the second tapered configuration, and 
 
 
 a cutting blade is connected to the first and second handles such that movement of the first and second handles moves the cutting blade toward or away from the first pivot member, wherein:
 the first direction and the second direction each extend away from the cutting blade, 
 the cutting blade is positioned between the first and second jaw members, and 
 the cutting blade is positioned spaced apart from the first boundary and the second boundary with the first and second handles positioned in one of an open position, with the first and second jaw members in an open position, or a closed position, with the first and second jaw members in a closed position. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A method for operating a cutting tool comprising:
 positioning the cutting tool on opposing sides of a band of a cable tie, which bundles a plurality of wires and/or cables, wherein:
 a first arm assembly comprising a first jaw member connected to a first handle; 
 a second arm assembly comprising a second jaw member connected to a second handle, wherein:
 the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly are rotatably connected to one another with a first pivot member so as to rotate relative to one another; and 
 the first jaw member has a first outer surface, which extends in a first direction and the first outer surface defines a first boundary and the second jaw member has a second outer surface, which extends in a second direction and the second outer surface defines a second boundary, wherein the first direction is a different direction than the second direction; and 
 
 a cutting blade is connected to a first and a second translational movement plates, and the first and second translational movement plates are connected to the first and second handles, such that rotation of the first and second arm assemblies relative to one another moves the first and second translational movement plates and cutting blade relative to the first pivot member, wherein:
 the cutting blade is positioned between the first and second jaw members, and 
 the cutting blade is positioned spaced apart from the first boundary and the second boundary with the first and second handles positioned in one of an open position, with the first and second jaw members in an open position, or closed position, with the first and second jaw members in a closed position; and 
 
 
 rotating the first handle and the second handle relative to one another and toward one another with the plurality of wires and/or cables positioned on one side of the first and second jaw members and moving the cutting blade, positioned on an opposite side of the first and second jaw members, toward the first and second jaw members with the cutting blade cutting the band of the cable tie positioned on the opposite side of the first and second jaw members spaced apart from the first boundary of the first outer surface of the first jaw member and spaced apart from the second boundary of the second outer surface of the second jaw member. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first outer surface of the first jaw member defines a first tapered configuration and the second outer surface of the second jaw member defines a second tapered configuration. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein positioning further includes positioning the first tapered configuration and the second tapered configuration between adjacent wires and/or cables within the plurality of wires and/or cables. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein rotating the first handle and the second handle toward one another further includes moving the first jaw member and the second jaw member with maintaining the plurality of wires and/or cables positioned on the one side of the first and second jaw members and the cutting blade cutting the band positioned on an opposite side of the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein with rotating the first handle and the second handle toward one another further includes the cutting blade cutting the band of the cable tie and positioning a portion of the cutting blade within a first slot defined by a first surface of the first jaw member and within a second slot defined by a second surface of the second jaw member.